System for detecting an entity in the vicinity of a drilling machine, and corresponding method

Abstract

A system and associated method for detecting an entity in a detection area surrounding a drilling machine is provided. The detection area is being divided into a plurality of subzones, with each of said plurality of subzones being associated with a corresponding safety level. The system comprises at least one optical scanner optically covering the detection area and operable to capture the entity within the detection area; a controlling device, operatively connected with the at least one optical scanner, the controlling device is configured to: determine a position of the entity captured by the at least one optical scanner within at least one of the plurality of subzones of the detection area; and trigger at least one action signal based on the safety level of the subzone corresponding to the determined position of the entity.

1 . A system for detecting an entity in a detection area surrounding at least partially a drilling machine, the detection area being divided into a plurality of subzones, each of said plurality of subzones being associated with a corresponding safety level, the system comprising:
 at least one optical scanner optically covering the detection area and operable to capture the entity within the detection area;   a controlling device, operatively connected with the at least one optical scanner, the controlling device being configured to:
 determine a position of the entity captured by the at least one optical scanner within at least one of the plurality of subzones of the detection area; and 
 trigger at least one action signal based on the safety level of the subzone corresponding to the determined position of the entity. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection area optically covered by the at least one optical scanner covers at least a peripheral region surrounding the drilling machine. 
     
     
         3 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical scanner covers the detection area from a support surface supporting the drilling machine up to a height of at least 1 m. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical scanner comprises at least three optical scanners, each optical scanner being configured to optically cover an area coverage portion of the detection area. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the area covering portion of each of the at least three optical scanners has a covering portion sector angle centered in or proximate the drilling machine. 
     
     
         9 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least three optical scanners comprise first and second optical scanners, wherein the detection area further comprises at least a first overlapping area covered by the first and second optical scanners, wherein the first optical scanner covers a first covering portion of the detection area and the second optical scanner covers a second covering portion of the detection area, the second covering portion superposing at least partially the first covering portion so as to define therewith the first overlapping area. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein said at least three optical scanners further comprise a third optical scanner, wherein the detection area further comprises a second overlapping area covered by the second and third optical scanners, wherein the third optical scanner covers a third covering portion of the detection area, the third covering portion superposing at least partially the second covering portion so as to define therewith the second overlapping area. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controlling device is further configured to set up the system into a detection mode corresponding to the division of the detection area into the plurality of subzones with the corresponding associated safety levels. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one action signal comprises at least one of a drilling machine deceleration command, a drilling machine stop command, refraining from triggering a command to the drilling machine and a drilling machine start command, wherein the plurality of subzones comprises at least a first subzone corresponding to a high-risk zone, the drilling machine stop command is triggered when the entity is detected in the first subzone, a second subzone corresponding to a medium-risk zone, the drilling machine deceleration command is triggered when the entity is detected in the second subzone, and a third subzone corresponding to a low-risk zone. 
     
     
         17 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the drilling machine is configurable upon reception of the at least one action signal into at least a normal configuration and a decelerated configuration, wherein a drilling rotational speed in the decelerated configuration is smaller than a drilling rotational speed in the normal configuration. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an authorized presence detection assembly configured to detect an authorized action realized by the entity in the vicinity of the drilling machine and operatively coupled to the controlling device. 
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein the controlling device is further configured to set up the system into an intervention mode different from the detection mode, when the authorized action is detected by the authorized presence detection assembly, the intervention mode corresponds to an intervention division of the detection area into a plurality of subzones different from the division of the detection area in the detection mode, wherein the detection area comprises an intervention sub-area and wherein the intervention sub-area when the system is in the intervention mode has a lower safety level than when the system is in the detection mode. 
     
     
         26 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein the authorized presence detection assembly comprises sensors configured to send a signal to the controlling device when the entity is realizing the authorized action. 
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein the authorized action comprises the entity manipulating a drill rod handler in the vicinity of the drilling machine. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 29 , wherein the detected entity is at least partially positioned within the intervention sub-area when manipulating the drill rod handler. 
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein the entity captured by the at least one optical scanner is a first entity, wherein the controlling device is configured to send the drilling machine stop command to the drilling machine when at least a second entity is detected in at least one of the plurality of subzones of the detection area, even if the first entity is realizing the authorized action. 
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a signalling device, operatively connected to the controlling device, the signalling device being configured to notify the presence of the detected entity in the detection area. 
     
     
         34 . The system according to  claim 33 , wherein the signalling device is configured to send at least one notification signal when the entity is detected in the detection area, said at least one notification signal comprises at least one of an audio and visual signal, the at least one of an audio and visual signal being of a different level of intensity as a function of the subzone in which the entity is detected. 
     
     
         35 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A system for detecting an entity in a detection area adjacent a drilling machine, the detection area being divided into a plurality of subzones, each of said plurality of subzones being associated with a corresponding safety level, the system comprising:
 a detecting device optically covering the detection area and operable to capture the entity within the detection area;   a controlling device, operatively connected with the detecting device, the controlling device being configured to:
 determine a position of the entity captured by the detecting device within at least one of the plurality of subzones of the detection area; and 
 trigger at least one action signal based on the safety level of the subzone corresponding to the determined position of the entity. 
   
     
     
         38 - 51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . A method for detecting an entity in a detection area surrounding at least partially a drilling machine, the detection area being divided into a plurality of subzones, each of said plurality of subzones being associated with a corresponding safety level, the method comprising:
 optically covering the detection area via at least one optical scanner;   capturing by the at least one optical scanner the entity within the detection area;   determining a position of the entity within at least one of the plurality of subzones of the detection area; and   triggering at least one action signal based on the safety level of the subzone in which the entity is detected.   
     
     
         53 - 87 . (canceled)